It's also a shame the world didn't get a look at him with Japan. 1993 and 1997 were his peak years. With the former Japan drew 2-2 conceding in injury time with Iraq (in Doha, very infamous match in Japan) to fail to qualify for USA '94, and in 1998 Okada preferred Wagner Lopes even though Miura was the one scoring all the goals in qualifying.

It's been a prevalent notion. Fallen sparks. Fragments of vessels broken at the Creation. And someday, somehow, before the end, a gathering back to home. A messenger from the Kingdom, arriving at the last moment. But I tell you there is no such message, no such home -- only the millions of last moments . . . nothing more. Our history is an aggregate of last moments.